Was originally paying £65 a month with OVO but I upped the DD to £300 awhile ago to build a surplus. Bought two tons of smokeless Excel for £1100 as solid fuels are shortly going up again.
Old former Victorian foundry building/mill and Covid wrecked our energy renovation project so not very thermally efficient, thankfully only me and MrsRNP.
wind yer wee necks in
😎
Never stop this chat. It's the best pro independence campaign ever
Never stop this chat. It’s the best pro independence campaign ever
Grab it with both hands (if you get the opportunity again)
Hopefully the independent government can deal with this :
SCOTTISHPOWER which has been pushing for a taxpayer-backed £100bn fund to help energy firms freeze energy bills has handed over nearly £7bn in dividends to its foreign owners since being taken over, it can be revealed.The payout bonanza to its Spanish owners, Iberdola over its 14 years of control of the Glasgow-based company has been revealed as its high profile chief executive Keith Anderson has seen his pay soar by £200,000 to £1.35m in a year. Six years ago, Scottish Power Limited's highest paid director was getting almost half that at £687,000ScottishPower's dividend payments to Iberdola have amounted to nearly one billion pounds in the past two years alone as customers face energy bills soaring by three-and-a-half times in a year.
tbf the majority of people from the south and the north don't really see that much different weather, the vast majority of people live no far from sea level. If you get regular snow, it's more likely because you live above 150/200 meters rather than how far north or south you are. Spring does take a bit longer to start up here though, so the winter is a bit longer. Could be argued as well that the south has warmer summers, so air con needs will be more.
Much of a much muchness really.
I don't see this as a north south problem anyhow, we are all getting hammered here. In fighting is useful to no-one.
MrSmith
Free Member
Never stop this chat. It’s the best pro independence campaign everGrab it with both hands (if you get the opportunity again)
Hopefully the independent government can deal with this :
SCOTTISHPOWER which has been pushing for a taxpayer-backed £100bn fund to help energy firms freeze energy bills has handed over nearly £7bn in dividends to its foreign owners since being taken over, it can be revealed.The payout bonanza to its Spanish owners, Iberdola over its 14 years of control of the Glasgow-based company has been revealed as its high profile chief executive Keith Anderson has seen his pay soar by £200,000 to £1.35m in a year. Six years ago, Scottish Power Limited’s highest paid director was getting almost half that at £687,000ScottishPower’s dividend payments to Iberdola have amounted to nearly one billion pounds in the past two years alone as customers face energy bills soaring by three-and-a-half times in a year.
Energy policy is a reserved to the uk. So hopefully the uk government will get its finger out its arse. Doubt it myself.
Don't know how much energy I use but my energy bills (combined gas & electricity - I am with Bulb) used to be around £45/mth in the summer time, but now it has gone up by around 90% to 100% to £80 to £85/mth. I think I will need to add another 50% to the bill for winter (when central heating is switched on).
It's a small flat and I don't earn a lot so the increase means I need to cut something else to compensate for the increase.
We spend about £1500 a year on oil and monthly DD for elec is around £55 but the house has solar panels so as well as earning money from what they create also get paid for the next energy that goes back to the grid
I have been using an energy meter thing to see what appliances are using electricity in my house. Still working my way round various appliances, but eye openers so far have been the 20+ year old freezer that is currently using 2.8 kWh per day (currently about £23 a month, but by April that could easily be £78!). By purchasing a new energy efficient freezer (and downsizing) I reckon it will pay for itself in just a few months.
Other big users are a similarly aged fridge that gets through 0.6 kWh a day, but is a 'spare', largely used for beer and drinks. So that is going too.
Currently testing the microwave (which seems fine - almost no power draw on standby at all) and then to tackle my sons gaming PC...
The podcast the big green money show by Deborah meaden covers this very subject, how to invest in your home to improve energy rating. Well worth a listen, some v good ideas.
Two gaming pc's and a hot tub. Hot tub was turned to pump only start of summer and only heated when we decided to use it - saved a significant amount of Kwh, but I'll turn it off soon - power monitoring plug has been bought so I want to see what power the pump only is using. Then test both gaming pc setups as I know my son has loads of stuff on standby.
Old fridge and freezer have just gone (knackered) and a new unit installed. Any other appliances aren't on standby now. small chest freezer will beturned down.
LED security lights will have timer's reduced - one or two can be switched off.
Can I remind all those of you with mains gas, that those of us without pay more for our electricity (no dual-fuel discount) - and our daily temperatures even in the south of Scotland are on average 5c lower than in the South East.
Oh and our oil cost has tripled over the last 2 years, spent £2000 so far this year compared to £700 for the same period in 2020.
Kiln-dried Wood unsurprisingly has also risen, looks about a +50% rise over last year.
And picking up on the Scotland Standing Charge issue, ours is 49.64p.
Cam anyone recommend a device for measuring power consumption through a 13a socket? Or, are they all pretty similar?
I think i need to assess and go on an appliance cull
Ian
I've just ordered a couple via ebay for not much more than £20. Much of a muchness. You can get smart plugs with power monitoring, but I went for the adapter plug and display, non-smart.
Extended 3 bed semi with 4 adults, used to use 13000kwh of gas, which dropped to 10000 when we fitted a Tado smart thermostat, then in the spring we added Tado smart TRV’s, looking like we’ll come in around 6-7000kwh a year, so about £1100.
Electric we use about 4000kWh with me WFH, 3 on 13 weeks a year holiday, a telly that is permanently on if the Mrs is awake and a son that spends any waking hour gaming, this should come in around £2100 but we switched on a 5.2kwp solar array last week that should take us down to around £1250, and £250-300 back in export payments.
So all in around £2000, pre price rise and pre smart TRV’s was around £1800-1900
So I get monthly bills then pay them, keeping track of them.
Last year at this time of year I got down to less than £35 for July/ August.
This year the same two months are closer to £80.
I'm too worried about the winter months, I can probably cover the increases but other things are going to be put aside to do so.
If it helps anyone this electricity cost calculator has been updated with the new price cap.
Oh and our oil cost has tripled over the last 2 years, spent £2000 so far this year compared to £700 for the same period in 2020.
How well insulated is your hot water tank? I found that the Megaflo thing in my place only needs nuking with the oil boiler every other day and can still do a hot shower 48 hours later (two showers / day). Flow rate on a thermostatic shower reduces a bit on the second day, but it's saved several hours running the boiler every day, and the water use is less too.
Don’t know how much energy I use but my energy bills (combined gas & electricity – I am with Bulb) used to be around £45/mth in the summer time, but now it has gone up by around 90% to 100% to £80 to £85/mth. I think I will need to add another 50% to the bill for winter (when central heating is switched on).
If you have them, have a look thru some old bills at what you were paying last winter. If you're on a normal variable rate....The increase this summer from your old £45 to £80 will be due to the price cap increase (now at 27.35p per kWh electric and 7.28p per kWh gas) The new cap coming in in October sees them rise by c80%. So your SUMMER bill would be c £145 (we use 3x the summer energy thru the worst months of Winter)
I'd urge you to give this a very good looking at.....
Oh and our oil cost has tripled over the last 2 years, spent £2000 so far this year compared to £700 for the same period in 2020.
Sounds impressive till you realise 2020 was pretty much an all time low. Anyone planning a budget using that as a baseline is living on a wing and a prayer.
Compared to any other energy source bar the spike in February to 1.20 oils up about 30% on its 10 year average which puts it's increases considerable lower than the others right now.
Sounds impressive till you realise 2020 was pretty much an all time low. Anyone planning a budget using that as a baseline is living on a wing and a prayer.
Go back to 2018 then, and it's still doubled in price.
We pay around £100 per month for combined gas and electricity. We have quite a bit of credit also. Our DD was about £130 a couple of month ago, but has come down. We input readings regularly. They always overestimate usage. We live in a new build, 3 bed semi detached with triple glazing and a 1kw solar setup. Over the last 6 1/2 years we have made around 5300kwh through the panels. We're about to move to another new build, but an extra bedroom and no solar panels. So I'm guessing we will see a big jump in our bill. But we don't have a dishwasher, or tumble dryer, and there is only 2 of us. We don't consume much.
Go back to 2018 then, and it’s still doubled in price.
yes the boilerjuice price graphs(i assume thats what your using since you picked 2018 as your referance and thats as far back as that goes) would certainly make you think that how ever whos paying that price ? - example its showing about 110p/l and yet i can get quoted 84p from my usual supplier.
The RPI 10 year average graphs paint a different picture
Estimated Annual Electricity Usage 2660.0 kWh
Estimated Annual Gas Usage* 15331 kWh
Interesting. ONly 2 of us, but we both work from home - me on computers, Mrs NBT makes curtains. Gas for hot water, heating and the hob. Everything else is electric. Surprised to see our usage is so high
I think I can get a full set of smart TRVs and thermostat for £300 to enable single room heating for WFH. This may pay for itself in one winter.
yes the boilerjuice price graphs(i assume thats what your using since you picked 2018 as your referance and thats as far back as that goes
Nope, when we first moved in I'd no idea what oil would cost so recorded it (and usage via a remote) - I've the data for +10 years now and it's the actual data of what we paid for each fill (3x per year = 3,000l) and usage in 100l units.
Also to check for leaks, by recording usage I'd see it.
And 95ppl at the start of the month for us.
We're 4 adults, gas use low - efficient house, but electric is high due to gadgets. Son's room does have smart sockets but I really need to resync them (pain in the ass as they don't like the 5ghz wifi, but I'll shedule power off duering day (he's at work). Going to see what the sandby use is as gaming pc, 3 screens, VR etc all on standy !
Daughter's put her two consoles on a switched extension as she's mainly using her gaming PC, but' she's also an ipad pro and a gaming laptop
We've an IR panel heater where MrsF works frm home (two days) so she;ll use that more as it heat's you, and nt the room. My I'll be two days at hme, so will work out something - currently the conservatory or shed.
I think I can get a full set of smart TRVs and thermostat for £300 to enable single room heating for WFH. This may pay for itself in one winter.
The wife just uses an electric oil filled radiator in her office. Never run the numbers on what it actually costs to use...
Over the last 8 years we've paid between 32ppl and 47ppl for premium kerosene. In March we paid 63ppl. My price for last week was quoted as 92ppl. 3* the lowest price and almost 2* the (previous to war in Ukraine) highest. That's in the Cotswolds/SW.
But - It's followed exactly what Brent Crude is doing, so can't really complain. Sadly, the low point seems to have been August 17th and I missed it.
I think I can get a full set of smart TRVs and thermostat for £300 to enable single room heating for WFH. This may pay for itself in one winter.
Question for the massed ranks of STW...is this worth it? I have old (1980s build) radiators with older valves - they do have 'dials' on so you can choose between 0 & 6 as a heating level and my boiler is less than 10 years old. I cannot afford new radiators or £300 for smart TRVs so wondering if just going round the house turning stuff down/off will have the same effect? I suppose walking round the house may generate some personal warmth 😉 I have invested in some some smart plugs for the TVs and a couple of strategic plugs (Fazzini-jnr-jnr Xbox).
In terms of costs Shell (after we were moved to them when Pure Planet went bust) told me in January I needed to be paying £180p/mth so I upped it to £200. They have since told me my expected usage will be £175 p/mth but want me to drop my DD as I'm in credit. Nothing at all like making it as confusing as possible for folks to get to grips with. If things do get really bad I'll just start going back into the office to work to save energy/money as my commute is cycle or walk, so can avoid car use.
so wondering if just going round the house turning stuff down/off will have the same effect?
Been doing that for years!
In winter I turn all the bedroom ones off after we get up. Only downside is I occasionally forget to turn them back on at night and we wake up to an unheated bedroom. No intention of changing to smart ones.
We've kind of lucked in to a reasonable deal with EDF.
Initially with Greenenergy paying £88/month for a 3 bed semi, they went down in early 2021 and we were moved on to EDF who honored the deal we had with Greenenergy.
Fast forward to October 21 when the initial deal ended and we moved on to SVR and a monthly payment of £247.00...ouch.
By the time I started looking for a new deal there was nothing going so we accepted that we were stuck on SVR and there was no point moving on from EDF.
Fast forward to Feb this year and we get offered a deal fixed until Fed 24.
At the time this was:-
Elect ~ standing charge 49.65 (SVR 49.65) Unit rate 31.12 (SVR 27.84)
Gas ~ standing charge 27.22 (SVR 27.22) Unit rate 8.386 (SVR 7.336)
With the war in Ukraine kicking off and £100.00 exit fee on both we thankfully took the deal and from October we'll be scoring big time on the unit rate...fingers crossed it'll all calm down within the next 18 months or I dare say we'll get an awfully big financial shock in Feb 2024!
wondering if just going round the house turning stuff down/off will have the same effect?
You could, in theory.
What I'm planning is to maybe have the kitchen heated for 20 mins before we get up, then after everyone leaves for work/school I will have only my bedroom heated during the day, if it needs it (which it usually won't). Then in the evening switch to the living room and perhaps the kids' rooms. The boiler needs to come on when those rooms TRVs need heat, but the thermostat is in the hallway so that wouldn't work when heating a single room. So I'd have to go around the whole house multiple times a day turning rads on and off, and manually starting the boiler whenever it feels cold in whatever room I'm in. That's too much of a faff for me.
The hallways rads (3x) don't have TRVs to act as ballast - they need to shed the heat if all the rads are closed. This is rather wasteful, and doesn't account for what happens when the hallway is warm (that's where the thermostat is) and other rooms might be cold so the boiler shuts off. It's very crude and I think it will be far more effective with smart TRVs.
The Wiser system can also control electric heaters via smart plugs as part of the system, and given that my gas is now nearly the same price as my off-peak electricity it raises the possibility of using an electric heater before 7am in some rooms.
I cannot afford new radiators or £300 for smart TRVs so wondering if just going round the house turning stuff down/off will have the same effect?
Pretty much this.
so wondering if just going round the house turning stuff down/off will have the same effect?
Yep. In fact it's even better, co s you're not paying out for new 'smart' controls.
Gas: 21,000kWh p.a.
Electric: 6,500kWh p.a.
Daily that’s 59kWh gas, 18kWh leccy.
Previously £145/month, now looking likely at £300+ according to Octopus’ calculations but I expect higher.
Well above average gas use presumably due to geography and house age/style. 1870s 4-bed detached, 180sqm, ~50m ASL in part-sheltered location, 56deg N latitude, modern DG and smart thermostats, 3yr old combi boiler, but high ceilings on ground floor and limited insulation (solid sandstone walls, upper floor is attic-style with dormers so limited space to increase roof insulation). Glad we moved from previous house where costs were higher despite being a modern 2006-built property, due to very exposed elevated location (to the extent of losing our roof in a storm once) meaning we used 32,000kWh gas on average p.a.
I WFH and last winter used an oil-filled rad under the desk with old-man blankets over my legs and rad to contain the heat, rather than have the CH on. Always assumed that’d be more efficient. This winter I’ll head into the office more often for free heat/leccy despite the desk setup being crap compared to home, thankfully it’s a 15min walk so I won’t incur other energy use/cost to get there and back.
Yep. In fact it’s even better, co s you’re not paying out for new ‘smart’ controls.
Plus you get extra exercise wandering round the house switching things on / off which will heat you up a bit!
with old-man blankets over my legs
That was pretty much me last winter, I work downstairs and it's all open plan, so sticking on the CH would be pretty wasteful. Just sat with a blanket over my legs! Plus I wear shorts most of the year and whilst I'm fine walking around outside in shorts in winter, sitting at a desk all day in an unheated room was too much...
That was pretty much me last winter, I work downstairs and it’s all open plan, so sticking on the CH would be pretty wasteful. Just sat with a blanket over my legs!
I feel so old doing it but it works! Room containing my desk isn't ideal being north-facing and getting zero sun with a high ceiling and larger than ideal, but it's the only location I can use. Ideal would be relocating into upstairs storeroom that's 2.5mx2.0m but that's currently our 'attic storage'.
Today I'm sat with (very) casual shorts on lower half combined with a smart shirt - I need to remember not to stand up during my meeting later on!
Can I remind all those of you with mains gas, that those of us without pay more for our electricity (no dual-fuel discount)
You can indeed. What do you wish us to do with this newfound info/knowledge?
Gas: 21,000kWh p.a.
Electric: 6,500kWh p.a.
Daily that’s 59kWh gas, 18kWh leccy.
Previously £145/month, now looking likely at £300+ according to Octopus’ calculations but I expect higher.
My previous usage was 2800kwh electricity and 20,000kwh gas, SO Energy have me on £390 per month as of October.
To be fair we live at 900 feet above sea level, pretty exposed on the Pennines, in a converted 1800's stable made into 4 terraced houses with ours being on an end.
It's over 4 floors with the kitchen/dining area converted from the cellar (been lovely and cool in the heat of summer) and the attic opened up as a mezzanine room with open staircase so pretty limited on attic insulation.
Gas central heating, hot water and cooking, with a small electric heater to warm the room we're in a bit more in the evening, and me at home at least 4 days per week.
To be honest those figures are with no thought to economy, with only me making any effort to ever turn stuff off and the heating set to a permanent 17 degrees; living room a bit warmer of an evening with the extra heater.
I expect usage will come down a fair bit over this 12 months with my wife being more attentive.
It won't be a struggle for us to pay the increase but I'm typically tight and don't like paying for anything if I can avoid it.
Very aware we are luckier than most.
Hoping for a mild winter for everyone's sake, despite my love of snow, but looking at the insane extreme weather stories from pretty much the entire world this summer I suspect it'll be a bastard.
Gas: 21,000kWh p.a.
Electric: 6,500kWh p.a.
Daily that’s 59kWh gas, 18kWh leccy.
Previously £145/month, now looking likely at £300+ according to Octopus’ calculations but I expect higher.
Octopus haven't said yet what they're going to do but the Oct cap figures put your usage at £544 pcm (plus daily charge bumps it to £566) I suspect the octopus calculator is based on prices as of now. Some scary numbers
Daily that’s 59kWh gas, 18kWh leccy.
18 seems a lot, there's got to be significant saving you can get there. We've averaged about 10, and that's for two of us working from home.
We average around 20kWh/day across a year. About a 6th of that is just base load (fridges, wifi, security, pond pump, etc). But as a family of 4 who shower daily (school decontamination shower) and cook everything from scratch using electric, we end up using quite a lot. My wife also seems to only wear clothes once, no matter what it is, how long it was worn for or how dirty it got, so the washing machine is usually on at least 5 times a week and the dryer/dehumidifier in winter.
